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Restoring the Daniel Adamson

Mosslands Year 10 Engineering students had the opportunity to visit the tug ‘Daniel Adamson’ which is berthed in Sandon Dock Liverpool.

Support the Daniel Adamson Preservation SocietyOn July 5th 2011 Mosslands Year 10 Engineering students had the opportunity to visit the tug ‘Daniel Adamson’ which is berthed in Sandon Dock Liverpool. On arrival at the quayside two members of the preservation society gave us the background to the vessel and the current situation in relation to its restoration. 

Built in 1903, by the Tranmere Bay Development Company as the Ralph Brocklebank for the Shropshire Union Railways & Canal Co. Later to be owned by the Manchester Ship Canal Company and renamed Daniel Adamson.

The Daniel Adamson is the only surviving steam powered tug tender with saloons fitted out in the opulent Art Deco style of the 1930’s ocean liners.

The Daniel Adamson

The society is committed to restoring and operating her on the Mersey estuary, the Manchester Ship Canal and River Weaver, enabling passengers to experience the grand luxury of the 1930’s liners. 

To date volunteers have contributed 65,000 man hours towards the restoration. 

Enjoying a tour

Before our tour of the vessel our volunteer guide explained how the restoration was progressing.       

The tour of the vessel was very interesting, we where allowed access to all areas but the most eagerly awaited was the visit down into the engine room here we learned how the Scotch Boiler was being restored and our volunteer guide explained how important it was to make sure the boiler was fired correctly, this included manually shovelling coal into the three furnaces.                                               

Mr Roberts trying one of the shovels for size

Mr Roberts trying one of the shovels for size.     

Engine room casing and towing hooks on the after deck

Engine room casing and towing hooks on the after deck

After our tour of the vessel we were taken to the workshops to see a number of volunteers doing a variety of tasks we were also shown one of the stores which was home to all the fittings and equipment that had been taken off the boat, this included the telegraph, ships steam whistle and a variety of navigation lamps all in the process of restoration. 

Outside the Daniel Adamson

The visit was a fantastic experience for our engineering students 

and gave them an insight into the complexity of restoring engines and equipment to their original condition to to-days stringent safety standards. 

Mosslands School will continue to develop links with the Preservation Society to give future pupils the benefits of this project.